Salim Ali Wild Life Sanctuary (http://www.keralaforest.o...) in Thattekkad is 14 km from Kothamangalam is the home for the bird sanctuary where we can find some of the rare species of birds. Exotic birds flock in the sanctuary and make this place a heaven for any ornithologist.
Bhoothathan Kettu is a good picnic spot, 10 km from Kothamangalam. There is a dam here and in the reservoir one can go for boating too. The legend says that the dam was built by a "Bhootham" using the rocks, which is the ample proof for the name. Trekking through the forest to the old Bhoothathan Kettu is very interesting. The forest offers a wide variety of flora and fauna and is a botanist delight.
Ancient temples in or near Kothamangalam are:
Valiyakavu in Ambalaparambu
Charupurathu Srikrishnaswamishathram in Ambalaparambu
Ilamkavu
Ayyankavu
Choriyankavubhagavathi temple in Kottappady
